These were the last two days before Amma’s Japan-America yatra. Amma came yesterday for Tuesday satsang and mentioned that she would come to the swimming pool in the evening, feed everyone Masala Dosas and mangoes.

Blissfully beautiful

Later that evening, as promised, Amma came to the pool soon after the bhajans. Amma spent the first one and half hours with Ashram girls. As the girls enjoyed the presence of Amma with them, there were cries of yearning from boys outside “Amme.. Ammme”. As soon as the girls session ended, boys started trickling in. Amma sat at the deep end of the pool and each one got a chance to be nudged into the waters by Amma. With a unique smile, Amma would sweetly ask if each one knew swimming and for those who did not, request a safety ring and keep her bramhacharis ready while she would shove them one by one. She would playfully tease them, evoking peals of laughter from all around. Amma would keep a watchful eye on each person as they dove into the pool, making sure they he would come up and make it safely to touch the side of the pool.

Amma asked for a ganjira and started singing bhajans. Her voice overshot the sounds of her children and “He Giridhara Gopala” rang through the night air of Amritapuri.

After everyone getting a chance to swim, Amma was alone in the water- swimming and floating in the pool for a while. Her legs were in padmasana, hands were holding mudras with only her forehead, eyes, nose and a small part of her chin above water. All were silent, as lights danced on the ripples of the pool. A gentle breeze caressed every one and Amma was in samadhi. It was blissfully beautiful.

After swimming, Amma went back to her room leaving the whole ashram awake, happy and relaxed, remembering her beautiful presence.

Dosa Fest

15 May 2013
The last evening before the US tour was the second annual super-special Dosa festival.

Even during Bhajans several dosa grills had started sizzling. Amma jokingly started saying “How can the mind be focused (on bhajans) when the smells and sizzling sounds rise on either sides”, as dosas were being made. And between each round of dosas water was used to clean the big grills causing clouds of steam to rise all around the hall. As soon as bhajans ended, Amma climbed down the stage and the Dosa fest began.

Amma made dosas with care and then with her own unique style, initiated the distribution process. Amma started serving hot Masala dosas with spicy chick pea curry and freshly cut yellow mangoes from Ettimadai. After most of the devotees were served, Amma insisted everyone to take a second portion: “Children, take a second dosa, or cut one in half and share. Don’t worry, we will make more for you. Amma felt all of you should be given a full mango but the person in charge of the kitchen was concerned for the numbers, so he sliced them up, but at least that makes it easy to eat. There is lots more, Please help yourselves!”. Amma then said “may all children be happy in body and mind, may all those here and everywhere be well. Go on eat!”. Saying so, Amma took a bite of dosa after chanting the Bramharpanam mantra. Two very big dosas were made for Amma one from girls side and one from boys. Amma took pieces from each and then distributed the rest to everyone.

As stomachs filled, Amma passed the microphone around and asked for people to share jokes. Amma would add spiritual insight into each joke, adding wisdom to the humor.

Amma then sang “Maiyyaji me ne tu chahdi’ – Mother I am yearning for you – with a lot of shouts of “oho”, “aha” and ended with “Mata rani ki.. jai”.

Amma then left early in the pre-dawn hours for her two month long Japan-America yatra.

To Amma, there are no limits. She goes every extra mile to make her children happy. Look at this – an ordinary evening she converted in to a big celebration, made masala dosa and distributed it hot to over 3000 people in an hour and twenty minutes, filled the session with satsang, jokes and bhajans!!